Human figure toy having a movable nose

ABSTRACT

A human figure toy is provided. The toy includes a storage unit and two pressure sensors. The storage unit stores a plurality of media files for providing audio questions and alternative answer options for each of the audio questions. Each of the two pressure sensors is associated with one of the alternative answer options respectively. The toy also includes a head portion with an aperture formed thereon. A reversible motor is secured within the head portion. A nose assembly that is driven by the reversible motor extends through the aperture. A controller controls the reversible motor to rotate in response to signals from one of the two pressure sensors, driving the nose assembly to move back and forth.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is one of the related co-pending U.S. patentapplications as listed. Such cases have the same assignee as the currentapplication and have been concurrently filed. The disclosures of theapplications listed in Table 1 are incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

TABLE 1 Attorney Docket No. Title Inventors US16995 HUMAN TOY Chuan-HongWang FIGURE HAVING A Hsiao-Chung Chou MOVABLE NOSE Tsu-Li ChiangKuan-Hong Hsieh Han-Che Wang Shin-Hong Chung US16996 HUMAN TOYChuan-Hong Wang FIGURE HAVING A Hsiao-Chung Chou MOVABLE NOSE Tsu-LiChiang Kuan-Hong Hsieh Han-Che Wang Shin-Hong Chung US17001 HUMAN TOYChuan-Hong Wang FIGURE HAVING A Hsiao-Chung Chou MOVABLE NOSE Tsu-LiChiang Wen-Sheng Tsai Hai-Sen Liang Han-Che Wang US17002 HUMAN TOYChuan-Hong Wang FIGURE HAVING A Hsiao-Chung Chou MOVABLE NOSE Tsu-LiChiang Kuan-Hong Hsieh Wen-Sheng Tsai Han-Che Wang US17003 HUMAN TOYChuan-Hong Wang FIGURE HAVING A Hsiao-Chung Chou MOVABLE NOSE Tsu-LiChiang Kuan-Hong Hsieh Hai-Sen Liang Han-Che Wang

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a human figure toy, more specifically,to a human figure toy having a movable nose.

2. General Background

Throughout the years, a wide variety of toy figures and dolls have beencreated for entertainment purpose. Such toy figures and dolls haveassumed shapes replicating humans, human infants, animals as well as avariety of frictional characters. In their efforts to increase theamusement and entertainment value of such toy figures and dolls,practitioners in the art have created a variety of toy figures and dollshaving movable features and articulated bodies and limbs.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,951 issued to Saigo et al. sets forth a movable toyanimal having a toy figure resembling a bunny or the like supporting amotor driven internal movement mechanism. The movement mechanism isoperatively coupled to a pair of movable ears and a movable nose. Whenoperated, the ears and nose undergo a predetermined movement cycle.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,087 issued to Terzian et al. sets forth a SOFTSTUFFED TOY WITH MANUALLY DRIVEN HEAD, EARS AND/OR TONGUE carried in aflexible sling with the head of the figure exposed. The head includesanimatable ears driven by rotation of the head relative to the body. Inaddition, the protruding movable tongue is driven by an actuator thatalso provides rotation of the head relative to the body.

While the foregoing described related art devices have to some extentimproved the art and have in some instances enjoyed commercial success,there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermoreimproved, interesting and amusing toys having movable components.

SUMMARY

The disclosure relates to a human figure toy that has a moveable nose.In one exemplary embodiment, the toy includes a storage unit and twopressure sensors. The storage unit stores a plurality of media files forproviding audio questions and alternative answer options for each of theaudio questions. The two pressure sensors are secured within the toy andeach of the two pressure sensors is associated with one of thealternative answer options respectively.

Additionally, the toy also includes a head portion with an apertureformed thereon. A reversible motor is secured within the head portion. Anose assembly that is driven by the reversible motor extends through theaperture. After one of the audio questions is provided, a controllercontrols the reversible motor to rotate in response to signals from oneof the two pressure sensors, driving the nose assembly to move forwardor backwards.

Other features and advantages will be or become apparent to one withordinary skill in the art upon examination of the accompanying drawingsand detailed description. It is intended that all such additionalfeatures and advantages be included within this description, be withinthe scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by theaccompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, theemphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principlesof a human figure toy. Moreover, in the drawings, like referencenumerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a human figure toy in accordance with oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a head of the human figure toy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the head of FIG. 2 with certain partsomitted for clarity purpose.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the head of FIG. 2 with certain parts omittedfor clarity purpose.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a nose assembly attached to a supportmember, both of which are shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the nose assembly shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a first rod of the nose assembly shown inFIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of attachment means of the nose assemblyshown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is another isometric view of the attachment means of the noseassembly shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a second rod of the nose assembly shownin FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram for controlling a motor of the human figuretoy that is shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a human figure toy 100 includes a torso 200 and ahead 300 attached to the torso 200. The human figure toy 100 alsoincludes two legs and two arms that are attached to the torso 200.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, the head 300 includes a hollow housing310. The housing 310 is formed to resemble a human face. An aperture 311is formed on the front side of the housing 310.

As will be better understood from the following description, the toy 100includes a first sensor means 500 a and two second sensor means 500 b,which are used for detecting a user's action to the toy 100. In theembodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first sensor means 500 a and thetwo second sensor means are pressure sensors. However, when needed,other type of sensors may be used and may be mounted at any suitableportion on the toy 100.

The first sensor means 500 a is mounted on the interior surface of thehousing 310. The two pressure sensors 500 b are mounted on the left sideand right side of the housing 310, respectively. More specifically, thehousing 310 includes two ear bases 312 (one not shown) that protrude outof the outer surface thereof on the left side and right side,respectively. Each ear base 312 is used for supporting an ear support313, and each is used for supporting an ear cap 314. Each of the twopressure sensors 500 b is mounted on the interior surface of one ear cap314.

Referring to FIG. 5, the head 300 also includes a support member 320secured within the housing 310. The support member 320 can be formed byplastic injection molding, in one exemplary fabrication process, andincludes two posts 321 (one not shown) onto which a reversible motor 400is secured. The motor 400 includes a threaded motor shaft 401. Two guidegrooves 322 are formed on the support member 320 and extend along adirection that is approximately parallel to the axis of the aperture 311on the housing 310.

Referring to FIG. 6, the head 300 also includes a nose assembly 330 thatis driven by the motor 400. In one embodiment, the nose assembly 330includes a first rod 340, attachment means 350, a spring 360, and asecond rod 370.

Referring to FIG. 7, a threaded bore 341 is formed at one end of thefirst rod 340 and extends longitudinally. A flange 342 is formed nearanother end of the first rod 340. The first rod 340 also includes a pairof guide ribs 343 on an outer surface thereof. The guide ribs 343 areformed opposite to each other and extend all the way from the threadedbore end to a side surface 344 on the flange 342.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the attachment means 350 is used forslidably attaching the second rod 370 to the first rod 340. In theembodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the attachment means 350 is of aflanged cylindrical shape and includes a flange portion 351 and acylindrical portion 352.

A circular hole 353 is formed on the attachment means 350 and extendsalong the entire length of the attachment means 350. A pair of guidegrooves 354 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of thecircular hole 353. The guide grooves 354 are positioned opposite to eachother and extend along the entire length of the circular hole 353.

A chamber 355 is formed on the flange portion side, extending from afirst end surface 356 of the flange portion 351 toward the cylindricalportion, which forms two openings 357 on a cylindrical outer surface ofthe cylindrical portion 352 and a second surface 358 of the flangeportion 351. The openings 357 are formed opposite to each other. Theattachment means 350 also includes a pair of guide posts 359 formedopposite to each other on an outer circumferential surface of the flangeportion 351.

Referring to FIG. 10, the second rod 370 includes a chamber 374 (shownin FIG. 6) that extends longitudinally and is used for receiving thespring 360 therein. A pair of long tabs 371 and a pair of short tabs 372are formed at the open end of the chamber 374. The long tabs 371 arepositioned opposite to each other and angled slightly away from eachother. Each of the long tabs 371 includes a hook portion 373 thatextends outwardly at a distal end thereof.

After the nose assembly 330 has been constructed, the attachment means350 is slidably attached to the first rod 340. More specifically, thefirst rod 340 is received in the circular hole 353 of the attachmentmeans 350 with the guide grooves 354 engaging with the guide ribs 343respectively. The first rod 340 is pushed against the attachment means350 by the spring force of the spring 360, and specifically, the sidesurface 344 of the flange 342 on the first rod 340 engages the first endsurface 356 of the flange portion 351 of the attachment means 350.

After the nose assembly 330 has been constructed, the second rod 370 isattached to the attachment means 350 with the two long tabs 371 in afirst position and the two short tabs 373 in a second position. Morespecifically, in the first position, the two long tabs 371 are receivedin the two openings 357 respectively with the two hook portions 373engaging the second end surface 358 of the flange portion 351.

Because the long tabs 371 are slightly outwardly angled, the long tabs371 are slightly deformed in the first position and a spring force thatsprings back the long tabs 371 to its original shape pushes the longtabs 371 tightly against edges of the openings 357, thereby preventingthe long tabs 371 from disengaging the openings 357.

In the second position, the short tabs 373 contact the surface of theattachment means 350. The movement of the attachment means 350 is thuslimited by the long tabs 371 and the short tabs 373, and as a result,the second rod 370 is held in position.

The spring 360 is a coil spring and is slightly compressed in the secondrod 370. One end of the spring 360 engages one end of the first rod 340.The second rod 370 is thus biased to a furthest position relative to thefirst rod 340 and can slide along the guide ribs 343 of the first rod340. During sliding of the second rod 370, the spring 360 is compressed,which is used for absorbing shocks, such as shock generated when the toy100 falls with the second rod 370 hitting the ground. As a result,significant damages to the toy 100 can be avoided.

After the nose assembly 330 has been attached to the threaded motorshaft 401, the second rod 370 extends through the aperture 311 on thehousing 310. The guide posts 359 on the attachment means 350 arereceived in the guide grooves 322 on the support member 320, therebylimiting a rotation of the attachment means 350.

The thread engagement of the motor shaft 400 and the threaded bore 341,the engagement of the guide ribs 343 and the guide grooves 354, and theengagement of the guide posts 359 and the guide grooves 322 cooperate toconstitute a rotation/translation conversion mechanism. Therefore, arotation of the motor shaft 401 is converted into translation movementof the nose assembly 330 and the second rod 370 can thus move back andforth.

Referring to FIG. 11, in one embodiment, the motor 400 is a steppermotor. In this embodiment, the toy 100 includes a storage unit 10, acontent playing unit 20, and a content output unit 30. The toy 100 alsoincludes a motor control system that includes a controller 40, a motordrive circuit 50, and a pulse counter 60.

The storage unit 10 stores a plurality of media files that are used forproviding audio questions to a user. The audio questions can be mathquestions and common sense questions, among other types of questions. Inone embodiment, audio questions provided by the media files providealternative answer options, such as a question asking, “ . . . which doyou think is the suitable answer, A or B?”.

Each of the alternative answer options to each audio questioncorresponds to one of the second sensor means 500 b, respectively.Specifically, the user can select one answer option by initiating thesecond sensor means 500 b. The relationship between the audio questions,the answer options and the second sensor means 500 b are defined in adatabase stored on the storage unit 10. The database also defines whichof the alternative answer options is the correct answer to each audioquestion.

Each of the audio questions also includes a prompt that is used forprompting the user to initiate one pressure sensor 500 b, such that ananswer option is selected. The prompt can be in a form like “ . . . Foroption A, please press my left ear. For option B, please press my rightear”. When the “left ear” or “right ear” has been pressed, the pressuresensor 500 b placed in the left or right side of the housing 310 isinitiated.

The content playing unit 20 is used for playing one of the media filesin response to a signal from the first sensor means 500 a. The contentoutput unit 30 is used for outputting the media files in response tosignals from the content playing unit 20.

When initiated, one of the two pressure sensor 500 b sends a signal tothe controller 40. The controller 40 determines whether the user'sresponse is correct according to the database on the storage unit 10. Inone embodiment, the controller 40 generates a control signal that isused for controlling the motor 400 to rotate in a positive directionwhen the user's response is correct. When the user's response isincorrect, the controller 40 generates a control signal that is used forcontrolling the motor 400 to rotate in a negative direction.

The motor drive circuit 50 receives the control signals from thecontroller 40 and provides a series of motor drive pulses to the motor400. The pulse counter 60 counts the number of the motor drive pulsesgenerated by motor drive circuit 50. When the number of the motor drivepulses reaches a preset value, the pulse counter 60 sends a signal tothe controller 40. The controller 40 reverses the motor 400 according tothe signal from the pulse counter 60. The nose assembly 330, which isdriven by the motor 400, can thus move back after reaching a limitposition. In this embodiment, the motor 400 can continue running for apredetermined time after which the motor 400 stops running and awaitsthe next signal from the second sensor means 500 b.

Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on thebasis of an exemplary embodiment, the disclosure is not to be construedas being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be madeto the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of thedisclosure.

1. A human figure toy comprising: a storage unit storing a plurality ofmedia files for providing audio questions and alternative answer optionsfor each of the audio questions; two pressure sensors secured within thetoy, each of the two pressure sensors being associated with one of thealternative answer options respectively; a head portion with an apertureformed thereon; a reversible motor secured within the head portion; anose assembly driven by the reversible motor extending through theaperture; and a controller for controlling, after one of the audioquestions is provided, the reversible motor to rotate in response tosignals from one of the two pressure sensors, driving the nose assemblyto move forward or move backwards.
 2. The human figure toy according toclaim 1 further comprising a support member placed within the headportion, wherein the reversible motor comprises a threaded motor shaftand is secured to the support member, the nose assembly comprises: afirst rod comprising a threaded bore for engaging with the threadedmotor shaft; a second rod extending through the aperture on the headportion; an attachment means configured for slidably attaching thesecond rod to the first rod; a shock absorbing means placed between thefirst rod and the second rod biasing the second rod to a furthestposition relative to the first rod; and a rotation stop means placed onthe attachment means and the support member for limiting a rotation ofthe second rod and allowing a translation of the second rod.
 3. Thehuman figure toy according to claim 2, wherein the second rod comprisesa chamber for receiving the shock absorbing means.
 4. The human figuretoy according to claim 2, wherein the attachment means comprises a guidepost that protrudes from an outer surface thereof, the support membercomprises a guide groove, and the guide post cooperates with the guidegroove to form the rotation stop means.
 5. The human figure toyaccording to claim 2, wherein a circular hole is formed on theattachment means for receiving the first rod, a guide groove is formedon an inner circumferential surface of the circular hole and extendslongitudinally, the first rod comprises a rib that extendslongitudinally on an outer surface thereof, and the guide groove engagesthe rib to limit a rotation of the attachment means relative to thefirst rod and allow a translation of the attachment means relative tothe first rod.
 6. The human figure toy according to claim 2, wherein theshock absorbing means is a coil spring.